Stoker pipe



Oct. l5, 1940. 1| iT, BLUM 2,218,414

STOKER PIPE FiledJuly 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l y (l l i WW/Wl//WMWWWWW IN V EN TOR.

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' Oct. l5, 1940. lH. T. BLUM n 2,218,414

sToKR PIPE Filed July 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :FIB-...15

J IN VEN TOR ZL/YOZC ATTORNEY l L y ir W, /N e?? l .M 53E M Patented Oct. 15, `194() v UNITED IsTiiTlasv s'roKERl PIPE `Harold TQBlum, Glcnmont, Ohio, assignor to Briar Hill Corporation, Millersburg, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 28, 1939, Serial No. 287,144 1 y 2 Claims.

` The present invention'is an improvement in smoking pipes vand more particularly relates to smokingv pipes provided with a mechanism for controlling the ri-ng of the tobacco therein.

'I'he principal object of the present invention is `to provide a mechanism for controlling the firing of the tobacco within a pipe bowl and which mechanism can be very quickly and easily mounted within the pipe bowl for its intended purpose and yet can beY as readily removed from the bowl.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stoking mechanism for smoking pipes of the conventional type, that is, a pipe having a bowl and stem connected to and extending substantially ata right angle away from said bowl, which does not take but a small proportion of the space within the pipebowl and, at the same time, does not materially alter the appearance of the conventional pipe.

. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a smoking pipe wherein tobacco can be consumed andthe smoke drawn therefrom without passing through the main body of the unburnt portion of the tobacco and in which the level of the burning` portion of the tobacco can be maintained at varying levels relative to the top of the pipe bowl as desired. f

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a smoking pipe having a tobacco stoking mechanism incorporated therein and which mechanism, while economical to manufacture, can be removed from or mounted within the pipe with a minimum number of motions and without the use of tools.

In the following detailed descriptionv of the accompanying drawings, further objects of the present invention will be in part pointed out and in part obvious from a consideration thereof.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I havein the accompanying `drawings and in the detailed following description based thereupon, set out embodiments of the same.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a cross sectional View of a smoking pipe having a tobacco stoking unit lincorporated therein and which unit is shown in a side elevation thereof. A

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailview taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail viewofa portion of the smoking pipe taken on line 3`-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side cross sectional detail view of a portion of the smoking pipe showing the mounting of the tobacco stoking unit therein and is taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 5 is a top elevationv of a base bearing and retaining member comprising an element ofthe present invention. I

Fig. 6 is a side crosssectional View taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. l

Fig. '7 is aside cross sectional view of a smoking p-ipe and showing a modified form of the tobacco stoking mechanism mounted therein and shown in side elevation. y

Fig. Bis-an enlarged top cross sectional detail view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a partial side cross sectional detail View taken on line 3 9 of Fig. 8 and showing a smoke passage. I Y

.Fig 10 is an enlarged side cross sectional detail View of a second modication of the present invention Fig. 11 is a top cross sectional detail view taken on line II-II of Fig. 10 and showing a retaining ring in position. Y

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side cross sectional View of the' control and elevating member forming an element of the tobacco stoking unit, and

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of an elevating rod.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein like and corresponding elements are designated by similar reference characters, numeral I designatesl a conventional type of smoking pipe having a pipe bowl .2 and a stem 3 connected to and extending substantially at right angles from the base end of bowl 2, said stem 3 having aI mouthpiece @connected thereto.

Bowl 2 has a-n internal chamber 5, to the lower end of which i`sconnected a bore 6 of stem 3 and which bore 6 is connected to bore 'I of the mouthp1ece.

Chamber 5 has a pair of longitudinally and diametrically opposedslots 8 formed in `its 'side wall. The base of bowl 2 has a circular opening 9 formed therethrough and in which opening 9 is positioned the bearing portion of a tubular bearing and retaining member I0. In order to'retain member I0 within said opening 9, the same may be cemented to the walls thereof, but it is preferable to ilare the lower end II of the member I0 outwardly for encompassing opening 9 on the outerside of the bowl 2. The opposite end of member I0 has an annular ilange I2 formed eX- tending outwardly therefrom and which ange I2 is seatedupon the lower interior face'of -bowl 2. A plurality of resilient ngers I3 are formed eX- tending from the outer edge of flange I 2` and which vlingers I3, which have outwardly'curving upper portions, form an annular recess with flange I2 at their lower portion.

A tubular controlled member I4, having threads I5 formed extending from the upper portion of the bore thereof, is seated within and through the bore of member I0 and is retained in this position by fingers I3 contacting an annular flange I G formed extending from tubular member I4. Further, member I4 is provided with openings I'I formed through the wall thereof, whereby oil can be presented to the bore of member I0.

A rod I8, having threads formed upon its periphery, is positioned within the bore of tubular member I4 and in threaded engagement with threads I5 of said bore. The lower end of said rod I8 has a blank projecting portion I9 which limits the upward movement of therod IB within the bore of member I4.

The opposite end of rod I8 has a rectangularlyshaped head 20 which extends through a similarly shaped and centrally located opening formed through a tobacco-supporting disc 2| and said head 20 is flattened, whereby, disc 2| is fixedly connected to the upper end of rod I8.

Disc 2| has an annular series of openings 22 formed therethrough and which openings are positioned near the outer edge of disc 2| for a specific purpose which is more fully explained hereinafter. The diameter of disc 2| is substantially equivalent to the diameter of chamber 5, whereby, the periphery of disc 2| slidably engages the periphery of chamber 5. Said disc 2| further has a pair of diametrically opposed keys 23 which extend within slots 8 and prevent the rotation of disc 2| laterally of chamber 5 but, at the same time, guide said disc 2| in its longitudinal movement upwardly and downwardly within said .chamber 5.

Figs. '7 to 8 inclusive, disclose a modified arrangement of the previous disclosed device, wherein openings 22 of said disc 2| are not required. In the present modication, rod I8 has mounted upon the head 2|) thereof a disc 24 which is of a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the chamber 5 and is spaced from the wall of said chamber. A passageway for smoke between the periphery of disc 24 and the wall of chamber 5 is thereby provided. This opening 26, as shown in the drawings, is greatly exaggerated in width for the purpose of clearness and preferably would have a width of approximately f", or thereabout. Disc 24 also has a pair of diametrically opposed keys 25 which t within and slide longitudinally of slots 8 formed in the wall of chamber 5, thereby preventing the rotation of disc 24 and its fixedly connected rod I8.

Any pipe bowl may readily have an opening 9 formed through the base thereof and a pair of klongitudinally extending slots 8 formed in the Wall of the bowl chamber. With these slight modifications, the present tobacco stoking unit can be quickly mounted therein by inserting the bearing portion of member I0 within opening 9 and iixedly .connecting the same to the walls of said opening by interpositioning a cement or adhesive therebetween. Preferably, however, end II of member I0 can be flared outwardly and this flared end II, in combination with annular flange I2, prevents member I0 from moving longitudinally of opening 9. With said member I0 thus positioned, tubular member I4 can be inserted within the open end of the chamber 5 and inserted within the bore of member I0. As flange I6 of member I4 contacts the upper end of resillent lingers I3, it will gradually force the fingers I3 outwardly, thereby permitting its entrance within the fingers I3 until contacting the upper face of flange I2, at which time the fingers I3 will snap back into their normal position and 5 retain the member I4 in such a manner as to prevent any possible longitudinal movement thereof relative tothe bore of member IIJ. However, member I4 can rotate within `the bore of member II) as can flange I6 within the lingers I3. 10

Before said tubular member I4 has been inserted within the bore of member III, threaded rod |8 is inserted within the open end of the bore thereof and threadedly engages threads I5 thereof, whereby rod I8 can be screwed inwardly 15 and outwardly of the bore of member I4. Thereupon, disc 2| is xedly mounted upon head 20, thereby limiting the inward movement of rod I8. The upward or outward movement of rod I8 is limited by stop I9 engaging with the face of the 20 threads I5 and said stop I9 being formed having a blank periphery, it cannot pass through said threads I5. Members I4, I8 and disc 2| are preferably formed from a lightweight metal, as for example aluminum, while member Ill is formed 2.5 from a resilient metal such as steel, or may comprise spring steel ngers I3 mounted upon a lower portion of a suitable bearing metal.

In the operation of the present device, tobacco is placed within the lchamber 5 and supported 3 0 upon disc 2|. Upon a ame being applied to the tobacco and a draft created by drawing through mouthpiece 4, the tobacco will become ignited. Depending upon the particular taste of the user of the smoking pipe, the burning portion of the tobacco can be maintained at various levels within the chamber 5 and the supporting disc, 2| drawn away from the bottom portion thereofl after each advancement. To maintain this tobacco as desired, the portion of tubular member I4 extending outwardly from bowl 2 is grasped by the smoker and given a righthand rotation, whereby, threaded rod I8, due to itsy threaded engagement with member I4, will be caused to unscrew therefrom, since keys 23 operating in 5 slots 8 do not permit the rotation of rod I8 with member I4. The unscrewing of rod I8 advances disc 2| upwardly until the burning portion of the tobacco reaches the desired level. At this time, tubular member I4 is given a lefthand rotation, 50 returning rod I8 therein and drawing disc 2| downwardly from the bottom portion of the tobacco. Openings 22, being positioned close to the walls of chamber 5, will draw the smoke from the burning portion of the tobacco downwardly between the wall of chamber 5 and the peripheral portion of the tobacco and not through the main body of the tobacco. Said smoke contacting the wall of chamber 5 will be relatively .cooled and moistures, heavy oils and tars condensed therefrom. After said smoke has passed through openings 22, it will be conducted through the lower portion of chamber 5 and bore 6, all of which are maintained relatively cool due to the protection of the tobacco upon the disc 2|, as 65 well as the disc 2| itself. Upon the smoke contacting the lower portion of .chamber 5 and the metallic elements of the stoker unit, it will be relatively cooled to an extent suicient to cause the condensation of further moisture, oils and tars therefrom, whereby a comparatively cool, dry and tar-free smoke issues from mouthpiece 4.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, tobacco is placed upon disc 24 and within chamber 5 and said disc 24 75 is automatically raised and lowered in al manner similar to that described for the manipulation of disc 2|. However, the smoke from the burning portion of the tobacco is drawn downwardly along the walls of chamber 5 due to the sucking of the smoke past the periphery of disc 24, that is, through passageway 213. By providing passageway 2B adjacent to the walls of chamber 5 at all times, the smoke from the burning portion must necessarily contact said wall and the moistures, heavy oils and tars will be condensed from the smoke due to the cooling thereof upon contacting the relatively cooler surface of the walls. The smoke, after passing through chamber 26, is drawn through the lower portion of chamber 5, thence to bores 6 and 1 to the mouthpiece of the pipe and during this passage, it contacts the relatively cooler surfaces of said bores, said chamber and also the metallic elements of the stoking mechanism,` whereby the smoke is further cooled and the `heavy oils, moisture and tars are condensed therefrom. The elements comprising the stoker mechanism have exceptionally good heat-conductive qualities for drawing the heat away from the lower portion of chamber 5 and, at the same time, add no noticeable Weight to the smoking pipe.

In Figs. to 13 inclusive, is disclosed a second modification of the stoker unit, which unit is mounted, as in the previous forms of the invention, within the bowl 2 of a smoking pipe I, which bowl has an opening 9 formed through the base thereof and a pair of diametrically opposed and longitudinally extending slots 8. A bearing 33 is mountedwithin opening 9 and cemented thereto. A tubular control and elevating member 21 is rotatably mounted within and extends through the bore of bearing 33 and has annular flange 29 seated upon and slidably contacting annular flange 34'of the bearing 33.

Memberv 21 has an annular recess 28 formed in the lower portion of the periphery thereof in which a three-quarter resilient ring 32 is inserted. The ring 32 extends from within slot 28 and slidably contacts the lower edge of bearing 33vand thereby cooperates with iiange 29 to prevent the longitudinal movement of member 21 within the bore of bearing 33 and, at the same time, permits the lateral rotation of member 21 within said bearing. As in the previous modification, an elevating rod I8 having a threaded periphery is inserted Within the bore of member 21 and threadedly engages openings 3| extending from the upper portion of said bore. The head 2U of member I8 has either a disc similar to disc 2I or disc 24 mounted thereon and iixedly connected thereto. Members 21, I8 and 2l or 24 are preferably formed of a lightweight metal and bearing 33 may be formed from a similar material or any suitable bearing material.

To operate a smoking pipe having this modified form of the stoker mechanism mounted therein, it is necessary to position tobacco within the chamber 5 and upon the tobacco supporting `the smoking pipe I, ring 32 can be pulled away from member 21 and due to the resilient qualities of the ring, it will be gradually spread apart at the open end thereof so that the same may be readily removed. Upon the removal of ring 32, member 21, rod I8 and the tobacco-supporting disc can be moved outwardly through bowl 2, whereby the interior of the same is cleared for being brushed and boiled, or otherwise treated for cleansing the same. A reversal of theA foregoing, that is, member 21 and its accompanying elements I8 and the tobacco-supporting disc can be inserted within chamber 5 and member 21 through the bore of bearing 33 until stopped by ange 29 contacting iiange 34, at which time ring 32 can be forced into recess 28 and during this insertion, the ends of ring 32 will be forced apart by member 21 until they pass the thickest part of member 21, at which time the ring will snap back to its normal shape, thereby locking member 21 longitudinally of the bearing 33.

The present invention is capable of considerable modification but any such modifications thereof as come within the scope of the accompanying claims are deemed to be a part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An improvement in smoking pipes comprising a pipe bowl having an opening formedl through the base thereof, a stem connected to said bowl, a tubular member mounted in said opening, rotatable means for progressively raising and lowering tobacco within said bowl being rotatably mounted throughthe bore of said tubular member, a projection extending from the outer surface of said rotatable means and resilient fingers connected` to said tubular member and capable of receiving said projection therebetween for retaining said rotatable means longitudinally of the boreiof said tubular member.

2. An improvement in smoking pipes comprising a pipe bowl having an opening formed through the base thereof, a stem connected to said bowl, a tubular member mounted within said opening, said tubular member having an annular series of resilient lingers formed at the upper portion thereof, means for raising and lowering tobacco within said bowl rotatably mounted within said tubular member, a projection formed upon the periphery o-f said rotatable means and encompassed by said fingers.

' HAROLD T. BLUM. 

